Christmas Angels by Nancy Naigle is an adorable, uplifting, and sweet Christmas romance.
This is a quick, light, and appropriate read for anyone that enjoys romance (that isn’t sleezy), the spirit of the Christmas season, and everyone working together for a common positive purpose.

I enjoyed the dynamics between Liz and Matt and thought that they had chemistry and a spark from the very beginning. I enjoyed the whole cast of secondary characters and I felt the ending was realistic and appropriate.

My favorite part had to be the adorable and amazing dog, Elvis. Too cute!

A great read.

5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Griffin for this amazing ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

This review is added to my GR account immediately and will be posted to my Amazon and B&N accounts/pages upon publication.

Thank you again!

This was my first book read from this Author, it was so refreshing and I loved the small town feeling of this holiday book. It made me feel like I was in the small town enjoying all the holiday festivities. Liz dreamed of taking over her grandparent’s inn and with hard work and determination she saw her dream come true. Her journey was not at all easy; she met some hardships along the way. And she did find what she least expected to fall in love. The angels that would start to mysteriously show up all over the inn was what Liz needed to see her dream come true.
I would recommend this holiday read.

A good Christmas read. A heart warming story for the holiday season.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Liz Westmoreland manages projects for a major consulting firm and she does it quite successfully. Her dream, however, has always been to manage an inn or lodge or B&B like her grandparents did – Angels Rest located in the small mountain town of Angel Creek. She regularly checks real estate sites, looking for her dream home. When she stumbles across her grandparent’s inn up for auction, she bids on it and, much to her surprise and joy, wins. Now her most complex project to manage begins.

Matt Hardy also bid on the inn. Located adjacent to his own property, it holds many fond memories of outdoor activities and the lovely granddaughter of the owners. His fear and that of the community that the new owner will tear the inn down to build a modern monstrosity are relieved when they realize who bought the property. Matt’s affection for the property and the new owner result in a wonderful story of renovation and reconnection.

Nancy Naigle writes the best Christmas stories ever. Sweet without being cloying. Yes, they’re Hallmark movie quality, but I love Hallmark movies. (She actually mentions Hallmark movies several times in the book, so she knows her audience.) Small town life sometimes gets a bad reputation – gossipy, petty – but Angel Creek has the love and caring that we all hope to find in our hometown.

Liz is in a job that she excels at...but gives her no joy. Her life’s dream is to start up a B&B like her grandparents and her dream is about to come true when she comes across auction sale. While trying to achieve this dream she comes across a burly mountain man that has offered his help and continues to encourage her through this adventure. She finds that she has a certain attraction to him, especially when he becomes less burly mountain man and more good neighbor friendly.

I’m not totally sure how I feel about this book...I enjoyed most of it and it was definitely a quick read, but I don’t think it was for me. I say this only because it had a bit of a religious vibe to it and it turned me off to the book a bit (it’s not super religious or anything, but you definitely get that vibe from it). I also think that Liz, as a character, could have been developed more. You find out something about her and she mentions it a few times and I think that maybe the author could have build upon this because you literally get no information about her past life. All she does is keep saying that she has no relationship with Dan besides them not being ‘together’. The ‘religious vibe’ I also got wasn’t very developed either and I feel like that also should have been. Because all of a sudden she is going to church and mentioning God and there wasn’t really a prelude to this either. Besides those two parts, I did enjoy it and it was definitely funny in some parts as well! The ending scene was cute and very thoughtful on behalf of the ‘mountain man’.

I really tried to like this, but unfortunately there were too many things that just didn’t work for me.

My main problem lay with the characters. The protagonist was a project manager named Liz. Her grandparents had owned the inn Angel’s Rest in her youth, and when it comes up for auction she decides to take a gamble as after years of city living she will fulfill a lifelong dream by buying and reopening it. I had no problem with that. However when she interacts with others the problems start. We are told by various characters how lovely she is, and the evidence for this would appear to be her many friends from different parts of her life. However her friend Dan from the city is described by Liz as selfish and unsupportive (she offers no reason why she does actually like him). With Matt (the hero) who is a really nice man who goes out of his way to help her, instead of saying thank you or listening to his advice she instead plays the ‘stupid’ feminist card (this is when the character is supposed to be showing how strong they are, but instead the merely demonstrate stubbornness, arrogance and stupidity, presumably not what the author was intending!). Niagle also can’t let her not be the best at everything. As a child she was the best fly fisherman Matt had ever seen, as an adult she wins a game she has never played before beating everyone else in the town, and when she loses a game of Scrabble we are told that ‘this never happens to her’. This creates a character it is impossible the empathise with which is a real issue in a romance novel.

Matt was another character who I found problematic. He was really handsome and nice, he owned a home in the town (which is in/near North Carolina) but lived and worked in Chicago. No explanation is offered about why he isn’t there or when he expects to go back. This bugged me. He states he had a crush on Liz as a youth and during the book he says this has become love. However she doesn’t remember him at all, and though they spend time together there weren’t any great heart to heart talks to convince me. She never even mentions to him that she has been divorced, and the reader never learns her ex-husband’s name or anything about him or the relationship. This is a pretty significant event that presumably has affected her character but we aren’t given any insight.

We are told that they are both Christians and the church appears to be a significant part of the town’s bedrock. But we learn little of the Pastor, and Liz makes a point of noting that she is essentially asked on a couple of occasions if she is a Christian. It is unclear what difference it would have made if she wasn’t. The introduction of religious faith in a novel can be unifying and inclusive, here however it seemed heavy handed in the way it was written.

I think a big part of the problem was the writing was quite disjointed. The author wanted the reader to feel a particular way about the characters, events and story, but instead of leading the reader to form their own conclusions she told the reader how to feel. The pacing felt off as well, the first three quarters of the book felt too long and laborious but the conclusion felt rushed possibly due to the ‘tell not show’ style.

I hate leaving less than positive reviews, and this review is utterly subjective. I’m sure that many people will not view it as I have done, but for me it seemed a missed opportunity as the plot could have resulted in a truly heartwarming Christmas read and I truly hope that this is what others will find.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher*

Another fun Christmas story. I have read more than I can count and can still say I enjoyed this one. it's predictable, but they all are, right? Liz had a dream and she was not about to let anything stop her. I could see the characters in my mind and smell the scents..staging the scenes for another great Christmas movie. It had all the right elements, love, conflict, interest, intrigue, struggles with a bit of mystery. An all around feel good story that put me in the mood for snow, twinkling lights and hot chocolate. The dog almost steals the show, but the appearance of angels throughout the story made my insides warm and happy. I am so glad Liz took on the challenge of repairing her childhood happy place, took the risk and Matt, and took to the plunge to fall in love. You will not be disappointed.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. All comments, thoughts, and opinions are my own.

Looking for a heartwarming story to read by the fire this holiday season? Look no further than Christmas Angels! Project manager Liz has always dreamed of owning a mountain inn just like the beloved home of her grandparents. She scans the auction sites and one night notices the impossible - her grandparents inn is for sale! She buys it as is and starts to uproot her life, and soon discovers the inn "as is" a disaster. Good thing neighbor architect Matt is around to lend a helping hand, as well as his heart...if she will let him.

Full of Christmas cheer and charm, this quick read offers the best of a holiday movie in book form. Although the dialogue was stilted at times, the story kept me turning the pages even on a hot summer day. If you loved Christmas Camp by Karen Schaler, try this out!

(PS - This would make a fantastic Hallmark movie. Starring Tyler Hynes. Just saying.)

Christmas Angels by Nancy Naigle is a charming, well-written, clean Christmas-themed read that I would truly recommend.

Liz Westmoreland grew up loving Angels Rest, the inn her grandparents owned, and dreamed of taking over someday. Life took her down a different path to a six-figure salary as a project manager launching store openings for fine chains around the world. It is truly serendipity that, while browsing an auction site, she finds Angels Rest up for auction the next day and bids on it, sight unseen, and wins. Liz decides that it's fate but isn't prepared for what the inn looks like, as it had been turned into an art gallery and is nothing like she remembered.

Matt Hardy had bid for Angels Rest, which is adjacent to his land, and worries about the new owner's plans. When he meets Liz, he recognizes her as his childhood crush, and is happy that she has come back to restore the inn. They work together to return the property to its former glory and a budding attraction develops, but both have been burned before and are overly cautious about a new relationship.

When an accident has Liz questioning whether she made the right decision to buy Angels Rest, Matt won't let her go without a fight. He rallies the town and does all he can to convince Liz she belongs with him at Angels Rest. Liz believes in signs, and you'll love the way Matt's dog, Elvis, assists with that!

The story is filled with Christmas spirit that will give you the warm fuzzies, and Naigle references Hallmark several times...it would be a lovely Hallmark movie.

I received a copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This was such a sweet book! Though not in the Hallmark series, I could easily see it being a part of that, since it is a clean and wholesome romance. Emphasis is on morals and character, rather than relationships, but there isn't anything overtly religious about the book. I love all of the little vintage details (like the elves!) that are sprinkled here and there throughout the story. Would love to see a follow up...maybe for Krissy.

I read of this book in the same day! I just could not put it book down! This is a small town romance novel. Overcoming the odds of making a go of reopening her grandparents B&B, Liv finds the whole town is behind her success. A very heartwarming story and a must-read book.

To what lengths would you go to make a childhood dream come true?
The answer for Liz Westmoreland is simple – anything.
Her childhood summers and Christmas Holidays were spent happily outdoors with her grandparents at their mountainside inn, Angels Rest. When her grandparents sold the property and retired in their RV, Liz was devastated, but even more so with their death.
Years later, a habit she’s developed, she peruses real estate sites and comes across an online auction. To her surprise, Angels Rest is listed and will be auctioned – the next morning. Scrambling to check her finances and her heart filled with hope, Liz takes a step of faith and bids on the property.
When she crosses the threshold of her eagerly won home, she wonders if she made a colossal mistake.
Her life will never be the same.
Angels Rest will never be the same.
With a colourful cast of small-town characters, Liz forges friendships and relationships with people from her past while striving to make her dream come true, all in time for Christmas.
I quite enjoyed this light read, although in spots some scenes dragged. I loved the small town feel, and the details of the renovations taking place. I could picture the transformation quite easily.
Another wonderful Christmas read from Nancy Naigle.
I received an ecopy from the publisher through NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I have reviewed this book for the New York Journal of Books site where it will be published on the evening before the release date.

"Christmas Angels" by Nancy Naigle
St. Martin’s Griffin
October 15, 2019
10-1250312620
352 Pages
Contemporary Holiday Romance


Liz Westmoreland lives a hectic life with an all-consuming job, but for the longest time, her biggest dream has been to purchase a place like her grandparents' lodge, Angels Rest, in the mountains at Antler Creek, North Carolina. She spent many happy days with her grandparents where her grandfather led her and their guests on fly fishing excursions, hikes, and fireside cookouts. The peace and serenity of the countryside far surpass anything, but her grandparents sold the property to retire and travel and unfortunately passed away soon after.

A favorite pastime of Liz's is to peruse real estate auctions online, so imagine her surprise when she sees Angels Rest listed. Not having seen the property in years, and with an immediate impulse to bid on it, she takes a leap of faith; she submits a price she can afford and wins. Now with the project for her job completed and the holidays coming up, Liz takes time off to head for the hills!

When she arrives, she is discouraged to find the lodge in disrepair:

"Liz steadied herself as her eyes began to sting and a sudden wave of nausea came over her. Hopefully, it was from mounting disappointment, and not from poisonous gas or mold in the house. See, it could be worse."

This is her future, and she will not let conditions deter her. Saving over the years to make this come true, she is determined to do just that.

It is wonderful to be back in this charming town, and at the local diner, Liz meets Maizey, the owner, who welcomes her with open arms. When Maizey learns she bought her grandparent's old home that needs tons of repairs, she is directed to Matt Hardy, a local contractor. A handsome customer who Liz finds very attractive offers her suggestions on what to eat as he leaves.

Surprisingly, Matt is the charming guy from the diner. They decide to meet at her property on Thanksgiving morning where Matt tells her he also bid on it. Seeing how happy she is hoping to recapture her memories, he offers suggestions for renovations. As they're both alone, he invites her to share dinner with him but does not let on he knew her when they were kids and always had a crush on her.

Liz cleans one of the cabins to live in while the lodge is being refurbished, finding the peace and solitude she so enjoyed as a child. She unearths several boxes left by her grandparents and is delighted to find angel figurines her grandmother had collected. What is strange is, some turn up in unlikely places, as if to reassure her she is making the right decision to move here.

When Liz takes a walk in the woods looking for pine boughs to make a Christmas wreath, she spots mistletoe she thinks would be great to use.

"In her excitement, she sped up to a jog, but her foot caught on something, and she flung forward into the snow with a thud.

"Her hands smacked the ground, and her trash bag of clippings went flying in front of her.

"She lay there for a second trying to gather herself, unsure if she was hurt or not.

"Sucking in a breath, she lifted herself up to her hands and knees. 'I'm okay. It's okay,' she said, convincing herself to try to get up.

"Pain seared through her body when she tried to pull her foot forward."

Liz manages to crawl her way back to the house and get her phone to call for assistance. It isn't long before help arrives, and Matt insists on taking her to the hospital where it is discovered her ankle and a small bone in her foot are broken.

The snowy mountainous setting and supportive townsfolk make Liz want to fulfill her dreams, but despair sets in and she questions if her plan is wishful thinking. She'll be laid up for weeks and there's so much to do. Should she abandon her dream and head back to her old job or can make a go of reopening the lodge?

This book was okay. It started slow and then was rushed at the end. I just didn't get a good feeling from it.

I'm ready for Christmas now! This story had all the sweetness and nolgetsic feelings of a family Christmas with little heartwarming details like the collection of family angels and the adorable inn where the story takes places. So charming and cute made me so ready to celebrate with my own family and also made me want to stay at a inn somewhere!

This is a book that will touch your heart and soul. It is beautifully written and holds your attention. Come meet the people of Angels Creek and forget about all your troubles for a while. There has not been many books that made me cry tears of joy, but this one did. I can't put into words how wonderful this book is and how much I enjoyed reading it. This is a book I will read again and again. I'm going to order a paperback copy as soon as it comes out. Thank you St. Martin's Press via NetGalley for the ARC copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own. I highly recommend this heartwarming book.

This is my first book by Nancy Naigle. I enjoyed it, even though there wasn't any mystery or suspense. It's the story of Liz and Matt. Liz has always envied the life her grandparents led and finds herself in the position of being able to purchase their old Inn, Angel's Rest, which they sold years ago. Matt has moved back to Antler Creek after the death of his father and is the town's handy man and overall nice guy. I like that this story is about living out your dreams and taking a chance. I am a believer in the saying that "everything happens for a reason" and this story definitely uses that a lot. It's a cute story about child hood crushes and making dreams come true.

Christmas Angels is a lovely holiday story. I can picture this a Hallmark Channel Christmas movie and I love Hallmark Christmas movies! This is a well written book with wonderful characters. This story covers lots of Christmas musts for me including hope, love, a caring community, a bit of angel magic, and of course snow. I liked the message to trust your dream. A wonderful Christmas book to snuggle down and read.

A light hearted romance that has everything going for it. Perfect hero, perfect town, perfect ending. Thoroughly enjoyed the story - angels are everywhere>

Have you ever had a dream of owning your grandparents Inn based on your childhood memories? Well, Liz has and it has finally come true. Or has it?!
Liz has so many wonderful memories of her visits to Antler Creek, North Carolina. Matt remembers her from when they were kids.
A heartwarming Christmas story by author Nancy Naigle with romance, community, holiday spirit or should I say Angels.
Thank you NetGalley and St Martin's Press - St Martin's Griffin for the opportunity to read this book.